Nicholas Biddle Jr.

Nicholas Biddle Jr. died peace­fully at his home in Gladwyne, Penn., on April 26. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Mary Hop­kins Biddle; their four children, Charlotte Hopkins Biddle, Nicho­las Biddle III (wife Linda Erle), Elaine Biddle Whitman (husband Bradford F. Whitman) and Lydia Biddle Thomas; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Biddle was born in James­town in 1917 where he spent near­ly every summer of his life. He is survived by his sister, Sarah Lee Stokes (Mrs. William S. Stokes), and his brother, Wharton Biddle; and predeceased by his sister Jo­anna Biddle Johnson (Mrs. Lewis Johnson) and brother John Scott Biddle.

During the many years that he enjoyed summer life in James­town, Mr. Biddle participated in the civic pride of restoring store­fronts along Narragansett Av­enue. He was a member of the Jamestown Historical Society and Jamestown Philomenian Society. A life-long member of the Conani­cut Yacht Club, he was a trustee from 1981 to 1988, vice commo­dore from 1983 to 1985, and com­modore from 1985 to 1987.

Mr. Biddle made his residence in Gladwyne, Penn. He was in­volved in local politics and was elected township commissioner in 1964. He was on the board of the Philadelphia Zoological Society in 1976 and became director emeri­tus in 1985 until his death.

He was commander of the Mili­tary Order of Foreign Wars, Penn­sylvania Commandery, 1961-62; chairman of the MOFW Commit­tee to save Fort Mifflin on the Del­aware, 1957-73; and chairman of the Historical Committee MOFW, 1973-97.

Mr. Biddle was the founding chairman of Fort Mifflin on the Delaware, 1986-2011, and became director emeritus in 2011 until his death.

Mr. Biddle attended St. George’s School, Newport, graduated from Episcopal Academy, Newtown Square, Penn., in 1936, and earned his bachelor’s degree at Princeton University in 1940.

A WWII veteran, Mr. Biddle served from 1940 to 1942 with the 108th Field Artillery Battal­ion of the 28th Infantry Division; and from 1942 to 1945 with the 909 Field Artillery Battalion of the 84th Infantry Division.

He served in the European The­ater of Operations as artillery li­aison officer (captain) with the infantry, earning three battle stars for engaging in the Battle of the Rhine, the Battle of the Ardennes (Bulge) and the Battle of Central Europe.

He served from 1946 to 1953 in the U.S. Army Reserve and retired having attained rank of major.

A memorial service will be held at All Saint’s Episcopal Church in Wynnewood, Penn., on Satur­day, May 11, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Biddle’s memory to Fort Mif­flin on the Delaware, Fort Mifflin Road, Philadelphia, PA 19153.